The Pizza Cup Toss Up: Pizza Saporita, Q Mex Face Off to Crown New Beijing Champion

We’ve come a long way in this fight for tastiest slice in Beijing, but only one can wear the crown of crust. What's most exciting is: this year it will go to a first-time champion.

It was a tight race between two Final Four competitors who have come a long way in the first year. Great Leap Brewing had an unexpected leap into the Final Four after finishing ninth last year, but they just couldn’t overcome Pizza Saporita, who came just behind GLB for the #10 slot for 2018.

Meanwhile, the head-to-head between Tex-Mex hotspot Q Mex Bar and Grill (#8 seed last year) and Italian pizzeria Bottega (#3) was equally close to the very end, but Q Mex’s presence at the Pizza Festival and aggressive get-out-the-vote campaign carried their reinvented crust first across the finish line. In all, that means both of our Championship Round candidates are a couple of underdogs who have gone from traditionally being edged out of the Final Four to setting their sights on number one.

READ: Relive the Glory of 2019 Beijing Pizza Fest

We also asked you to rank those of the Elite Eight round by how sad you were to see them leave. The final seedings as those stand were Tube Station at #5, La Pizza at #6, Gung Ho at #7, and finally Jing-A Taproom at #8.

There we have it, folks, your favorite pizza of 2019 will either be Q Mex Bar and Grill or Pizza Saporita. It’s not over yet, though, and if there was ever a time to cast your grease-stained ballot, it is right now.

Scan the QR code below with WeChat to vote
in 2019's Pizza Cup Championship Round!

Extra sauce with your pie?

In the previous round, we also asked you to tell us how the Pizza Festival has changed your outlook on Beijing's saucy scene. Suffice it to say the Pizza Cup has once again changed hearts and minds .... and waistlines in the process:

The Pizza Cup has informed:
-- 76 percent say they learned about new pizza places they had not heard of before
-- 71 percent say they tried new pizza places they had not tried before
    
The Pizza Cup has stimulated appetites:  
-- 71 percent say they ate more pizza than ususal
-- 54 percent say they consumed more beer than usual

and the Pizza Cup has once again changed minds:
-- 63 percent say they changed their opinion on their favorite pizza in Beijing since the festival.

The rankings so far

With that result, the losers of the Elite Eight then join the other 2019 knockouts for a final tally:

5. Tube Station
6. La Pizza
7. Gung Ho
8. Jing-A Taproom

9. Annie's
10. Eatalia
11. The Local 
12. Baozza 
13. Turkish Feast
14, Pie Squared 
15. Oh Yeah! Brewing
16. MIAM MIAM
17. Kro's Nest 
18. Pizza Hut 
19. Papa John's 
20. 3 Little Pigs by Andy's Craft Sausages 
21. Pyro Pizza 
22. Domino's Pizza 
23. Pizza Marzano 
24. TIAGO
25. The Rug
26. Paddy O'Shea's
27. Laker's 
28. Saizeriya 
29. Yummy Box 
30. The Cheesecake Factory
31. Green Cow City Cafe 
32. Lily's American Diner
33. Plan B     
34. Luga's     
35. 1st Floor     
36. Georgia's Feast     
37. Tribe
38. Big Pizza     
39. Mao Mao Chong     
40. The Veggie Table     
41. Pizza Factory     
42. Grandma's Kitchen     
43. Xian at East, Beijing     
44. Mr Pizza     
45. Fiume     
46. Scott's Family Ristorante Italiano     
47. Legend Beer     
48. Eudora Station     
49. Tavola Italian Dining     
50. Lievito Gourmet Pizza and Bar     
51. Jazz-Ya     
52. NBeer Pub     
53. Assaggi     
54. Charlie's     
55. The Mozza     
56. Bocca Della Verita     
57. MIO, Four Seasons Hotel     
58. Fella's     
59. Pizza Now     
60. Cafe Ruhe     
61. La Cucina     
62. Pizza by LMPlus     
63. Ponte     
64. BUONA BOCCA Italian Bistro     
65. Ummm Kitchen     
66. Joe's Bar & Kitchen     
67. La Mezzaluna     
68. QS     
69. Peiping Machine     
70. Peter Pan     
71. Casa Gusto     
72. Nine Road Pizzeria     
73. Via Roma, Kempinski Hotel     
74. Red Rose     
75. Unico     
76. Dongli Brewery     
77. Nasca Cafe     
78. Jushi Pizza     
79. PIZZA FUOCO     
80. CUP ONE     
81. MustGuette     
82. PBD Pizza Bar     
83. Bene     
84. Passby Bar     
85. Pinvita     
86. Flypizza & Hoodadak Chicken     
87. Leos Pizza     
88. Hisewel Brew-pub     
89. Pomona     
90. Agrilandi     
91. Casalingo     
92. Whale's Pizza     
93. BLT     
94. Byone     
95. RADICI     
96. Tomcado     
97. Atta BJ     
98. Four Aces     
99. PIZZAgram   

Knockout Round Schedule

• Championship Round: Closes Tuesday, Nov 12, midday
• Beijing's Best Pizza crowned: Tuesday, Nov 12, 4pm

So what are you waiting for? Get voting before midday Tuesday!

Sherpa’s, the official sponsor of the 2019 Beijing Pizza Cup, are offering new users RMB 50 off (min. spend RMB 99) food delivery and RMB 10 off any movie ticket purchased through the Sherpa's App. Simply scan the QR below and follow the instructions.

See the action as it unfurled right here.

Images: the Beijinger, Great Leap Brewing